TonyQ: Big Year 2023

[pedro maia]

Agree on the francolins, beautiful.

[TonyQ]

@PeterHGthank you

@michael-ibk@pedro maiathank you. I do like birds that sit out in the open

 

The next birds are from the Sani Pass which goes up from South Africa into Lesotho

We did a day trip with Stuart Maclean in his 4X4. He was an excellent guide - highly recommend.

 

194.SA57 Olive Woodpecker  Chloropicus griseocephalus           

Sani Pass        07.07.23

Sani Pass        07.07.23

This, and the next bird, were in the grounds of a property that Stuart knows, just at the bottom of the pass

Edited August 28, 2023 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

195.SA58 Half-collared Kingfisher  Alcedo semitorquata  

Very Dark!, Sani Pass        07.07.23

[TonyQ]

196.SA59 Southern Bald Ibis  Geronticus calvus           

Sani Pass        07.07.23

Distant, against strong sunlight, Sani Pass        07.07.23

[TonyQ]

197.SA60 Red throated/Rufous-necked Wryneck  Jynx ruficollis  

Sani Pass        07.07.23

Mtunzini           18.07.23

[TonyQ]

198.SA61 Gurney's Sugarbird  Promerops gurneyi           

A lovely bird, Sani Pass        07.07.23

[TonyQ]

199.SA62 Drakensberg Prinia  Prinia hypoxantha           

Streaks on breast, not throat and not on underparts, Sani Pass        07.07.23

[TonyQ]

200.SA63 Ground Woodpecker  Geocolaptes olivaceus        

Sani Pass        07.07.23

Actually on the ground!, Sani Pass        07.07.23

We were very keen to see these, and as with many of the birds today, Stuart knew just where they would be found.

[TonyQ]

201.SA64 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer diffusus          

At the border post, Sani Pass        07.07.23

Mkhuze           14.07.23

Up to this stage the Sani Pass birds have been in South Africa. When I start the next lot, they will be in Lesotho.

[michael-ibk]

Some very cool species - several would be lifers for me. 

[Zim Girl]

Lovely collection of SA birds so far @TonyQ.

This is an area of SA we haven't been to so also looking forward to the trip report.

[Galana]

Anicely growing collection.  Well done. My top vote is for the Wryneck.

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibkthank you - there were many lifers for us

@Zim Girlthank you

@Galanathank you - we were pleased to see the Wryneck

 

A few more - now from the Lesotho section of the Sani Pass (but I will still give SA numbers!)

 

202.SA65 Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi      

(M) Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

(F) Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

We saw these in a few places in this section

[TonyQ]

203.SA66 Rock Kestrel  Falco rupicolus       

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

One very brief distant glimpse. Dreadful photos but markings are very distinctive

[TonyQ]

204.SA67 African Rock Pipit  Anthus crenatus           

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

[TonyQ]

205.SA68 Sentinel Rock-Thrush  Monticola explorator       

(M) Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

(F) Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

[TonyQ]

206.SA69 Karoo Prinia  Prinia maculosa      

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

I like Prinias!. THis one has heavier streaking that goes onto the throat

[TonyQ]

207.SA70 Sickle-winged Chat  Emarginata sinuata

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

[TonyQ]

208.SA71 Grey Tit  Melaniparus afer

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

[TonyQ]

209.SA72 Grey-winged Francolin  Scleroptila afra           

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

We were on foot for this (as indeed we were for most birds here). Quite difficult to see and easily spooked, this was about the best photo I could manage  - they run surprisingly quickly.

[TonyQ]

210.SA73 Cape Bunting  Emberiza capensis           

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

Very common here, and in places they were very confiding

[PeterHG]

A fine batch of SA birds again! Several of them would have been lifers for me.

[pedro maia]

I particularly like the last picgture of the Cape bunting, looks like it has a fur coat.

[TonyQ]

@PeterHGthank you

@pedro maiathank you - I see what you mean about the fur coat - especially the fur collar. The picture was take at about 2900m, so it was pretty cold

 

And now tha lst ones from Sani Pass

 

211.SA74 Cape Vulture  Gyps coprotheres  

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

Sani Valley Lodge       08.07.23

We were pleased to see these in a number of places on the trip, but Stuart said that numbers are down compared to what they used to be.

 

 

[TonyQ]

212.SA75 Bearded Vulture  Gypaetus barbatus           

Lesotho: Sani Pass     07.07.23

We were delighted to see this one. The adults change duties on the nest at around 12-12.30, so we were there waiting!